Preview : Match 70 – RCB vs CSK

Royal Challengers Bangalore clash with the Chennai Super Kings in Match 70 of the Pepsi IPL 2013.

Even after the defeat in the match against Kings XI Punjab, RCB are still alive in the race to progress to the Pepsi IPL 2013 Playoffs.

Chennai Super Kings meanwhile doesn't need to depend on the result of the match to retain their position among the top two teams in the table.

The match promises to be a cracker of a contest given, RCB have a very good record of playing at home (7 wins in 8 matches), while CSK have been the best travellers this season.

When

Saturday, May 18, 2013, 8 p.m

Where

M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

The Protagonists

Given how RCB have struggled to contain runs with the ball, it is their batsmen who need to win them matches. Orange Cap holder Chris Gayle, skipper Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers need to get runs to give RCB the best chance of overhauling CSK.Murali Vijay could not have timed his return to form any better. Runs from him at the top of the order will reduce the burden on Michael Hussey, Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni – three of CSK’s key players.

CSK definitely have the edge on the bowling front. Little known prior to the start of the season, Mohit Sharma and Chris Morris have given their team breakthroughs time and again. Also keep an eye on the contest between CSK’s Dwayne Bravo (24 wickets) and RCB’s R Vinay Kumar (22 wickets), both of who are in the race for the Purple Cap.

Previous Meetings

No two teams have met more often in the IPL than Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings. The two teams have so far met on 14 occasions (one of which was washed out). CSK have a definite edge over RCB having won 8 of their 14 matches, while RCB emerged victors in the remaining five.

Trivia

No team has won more matches on the road this season than the Chennai Super Kings; they have won five of their seven away matches.

What Next

Both teams complete their league campaign in Pepsi IPL 2013. While RCB will await to know whether they progress to the Pepsi IPL 2013 Playoffs or not, CSK will head to Delhi to compete in the Playoffs.